Australasia's Top Jumpers Flock to Dunedin

A star-studded line-up of top show jumpers from both sides of the Tasman have flocked to Dunedin vying for a share of the more than $125,000 up for grabs this weekend.

Easily the South Island’s richest equestrian event, the action gets underway tomorrow night (Friday) with a field of 30 battling it out for the $50,000 McMillan Equine Feeds Super Grand Prix as part of Ride The Rhythm, indoors at the Forsyth Barr Stadium. It is the first time an equestrian event has been staged at the stadium, and one of the few indoor events on the New Zealand jumping calendar.

New Zealand showjumping’s pin-up girl, Katie McVean, has three horses entered in the Super Grand Prix including last year’s prestigious Olympic Cup winner Dunstan Daffodil who is back from injury. She also starts the June Berrington-owned, Kiwi Iron Mark, and rising star Dunstan Springfield.

Among the other Kiwi starters are local hopes Claudia Hay on her starry stallion Euro Sport Heartbreaker and young rider Brittany Whelan on the gusty, George Jetson, as well Olympians Daniel Meech (Argento), Samantha McIntosh (Claire and Estina) and Maurice Beaton (My Gollywog and Schimmel Warrior). Canterbury riders Ross Smith, fresh from winning the Dannevirke Bayer FEI World Cup round on Quite Cassini, and Susie Hayward on Andretti, also go in with strong form.

Both McVean and Beatson are flying into Dunedin having competed in the FEI Bayer World Cup Final in Tauranga tonight (Thursday).

The Australian charge is led by Alison Rowland, from Perth, a recent winner of the Australian League of the FEI World Cup, with her two homebred mares Bickley Brook Bella (10) and Bickley Brook Bianca (9).

Rowland expects her two horses to be competitive, but is under no illusions at the strength of the competition. “I have a pretty good chance. But New Zealand show jumpers Maurice Beatson and Katie McVean are always hard to beat. It won’t be easy to win,” she said.

She is flanked by six other top Australian riders, many of whom are on their first visit to New Zealand. However, regular trans-Tasman visitors Billy Raymont, who rides the lovely, Stardom, and Jamie Winning with Yandoo Zandu and Alpha Centauri, can’t be underestimated.

Earlier in the evening 12 of the country’s leading pony riders will get their chance to shine in front of the big crowd in the $5000 Grand Prix. It is going to be a hotly-contested competition with 12-year-old Steffi Whittaker (Halswell) looking to continue her unprecedented winning run with Moonlight Glow, notching up her sixth individual win of the season at Waimate last weekend. The sole North Island entry, Takapau’s Emily Fraser will be looking to rain on the southerner’s parade with Tony The Pony and Tiger Tale LS.

The crowd will also be wowed with GJ Gardner Home ‘Wall Challenge’ with six horses down to compete. A whopping $70,000 is on the line for anyone that can jump 2.21m, clearing the current New Zealand record by 8cm.

The equestrian programme also boasts the fast and furious action of mounted games and scurry driving, as well as the beauty and prestige of classical dressage to music, all before British pop legends The Hollies take to the stage for their sole South Island concert.

From the Forsyth Barr Stadium, the action shifts to the Taieri Agricultural Park for two days of top flight jumping entertainment for the Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) Two Star Otago Jumping Championships, with more than 200 riders and 330 horses taking part across all levels, from training through to Grand Prix.

All series classes have fielded strong entries, boosted by large entries from the North Island and Australia. The highlight will be the $50,000 Forsyth Barr Horse Grand Prix on Sunday, where the top jumpers will do battle once again. Saturday’s feature events are the Euro Sport Elite Rider (1.30m) and the Mitavite South Island Young Rider.

Tauranga-based international course designer Gerrit Beker has been tasked with designing both at Ride the Rhythm and in Ring One, with Barry Manson in Ring Two.

Tickets for Ride The Rhythm are still available at TicketDirect. Gates open at 3pm, competition starts with Pony Grand Prix at 3.30pm. Hollies on at 9pm. Entry to the showgrounds is Free on Saturday, and $10 per car on Sunday.